For the last two preseason games, Jim Fassel had this little ritual, approaching rookie linebacker Jack Golden and offering some advice.

“Before every game he always tells me, ‘We’re wearing blue, so make sure to tackle the guys in the white,'” Golden said yesterday. “It’s just a little fun, joking around. It’s nice I can laugh about it.”

Golden can afford to laugh because one of the most memorable gaffes in recent memory did not cost him a chance to stick with the Giants. Golden made the team as an undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State, even though in the second preseason game, he turned a 13-9 Giants victory into a 16-13 loss in Jacksonville when he tackled his own teammate, Fred Lewis, after Lewis made what appeared to be a game-clinching interception near the end zone.

Golden caused a fumble that was recovered by the Jaguars, and even though the blunder was not considered to be enough to remove him from the roster, it was comforting when he learned he had stuck.

“It was a long weekend waiting until Sunday morning,” Golden said. “I was kind of anxious, excited at times, nervous at others. I’m glad it’s over with.”

Fassel said Golden is raw and talented and has lots to learn. On special teams, Golden is so intent on hitting someone that he often attacks the blocker, at times forgetting about the ball-carrier.

“He runs down and the guy’s catching the ball and he’s trying to knock the blocker down,” Fassel said. “The object of the exercise is to tackle the guy with the ball … in the other uniform.”

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It’s not the end of the road just yet for DE Frank Ferrara, the Brooklyn/Staten Island product who was waived Sunday. Ferrara was signed yesterday for the five-man practice squad, which is a surprise, considering he was on the squad last season and players rarely spend two years on the developmental squad.

“It’s cool,” Ferrara said. “It’s a good opportunity. I can’t complain. I’ve got a job, you know? That’s the most important thing.” LB O.J. Childress is also expected to sign with the practice squad.

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The Giants will wear their new white uniforms for their home opener, a dramatic departure with tradition. The Giants always wear blue at home, and haven’t wore white since the 1970s, when the Giants, like other teams, wore white at home to force the Cowboys to wear their seldom-used blue uniforms. The uniform switch is the brainchild of Fassel, who figures wearing white should help on what could be a hot day.

“Look at all the places you go to – Arizona, Miami, Dallas – they’re going to be in their whites, anywhere it’s hot,” said Fassel of the one-game uniform switch.

FS Shaun Williams participated fully in practice and was not slowed by the sprained toe that kept him out of all four preseason games. If all goes well this week, Williams will start vs. the Cardinals, replacing Lyle West, who started in the preseason. “He’s not out of the woods 100 percent but I’m clearly feeling good about where he is,” Fassel said. “He looked like he could play if we played today.”

Rookie Cornelius Griffin said he doesn’t mind the move from DT to DE, even though he’s a natural tackle. “When I spend a little bit of time at end, I’ll be OK, I’ll be just as good at end as I am at tackle,” Griffin said … LB Pete Monty practiced with a wrap around his fractured right thumb.